"We want the Kyorotprekana," Demon Akuma said, his voice cold and menacing, sending shivers down my spine. "It is rightfully ours, and we will do whatever it takes to get it." Then, I looked beyond and saw the dozens of the most elite samurai of the Kuroi Clan stacked up behind him. I knew I was outnumbered, but I refused to give it up without a fight. "Then you'll have to take it," I said, drawing my sword.


I am Master Kin Tsoi, a samurai with a reputation for being a master of my craft, and I have trained relentlessly to become the skilled warrior I am today. From a young age, I have been completely dedicated to the sword's art and have journeyed to distant lands, learning from the most exotic and elusive martial arts masters. Most refer to me as someone to be feared by those who stand against me and respected by those who fight alongside me. Yet, despite my impressive accomplishments, I know there is more to learn, and I have made it my life's journey to be the greatest samurai to mankind.


During my travels, I first heard of the Kyorokana, a legendary diamond that was said to possess immense power. The story went that whoever possessed the Kyorokana would gain unparalleled strength and control over the world.


"Guarded by a dragon, buried deep in the earth, The Kyorokana lies waiting for its worth. Power beyond measure, control beyond compare, But beware, for those who seek it will pay a heavy fare."


I knew I had to stay out of their conflict, but fate had other plans. One day, while wandering through the mountains of the Himalayas, I stumbled upon an ancient temple. "Huh, that wasn't there before," I thought to myself. As I creaked open the ancient stone door, I saw nothing but an ancient book in the center on an old wooden table with mold growing on the legs of it. As I stood there, a gust of wind blew past me, and I heard a dragon voice behind me, deep and powerful but with a slight hint of sadness. "Hello, Kin," he said to me. I swirled in motion, steadying my sword as I circled my position. "Who's there!" I yelled, adrenaline rushing through my blood. Was this an ambush by the Kuki empire? As I held my ground, I turned around to see a dragon. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, covered in gold-plated scales gleaming in the sunlight with deep, piercing emerald green eyes that glowed at my sight.


"I am Kazaru, the guardian dragon of Kyorokana, Kin. I am the seer of all, the master of masters, and the greatest of all. I have guided fate for you to be here. I've seen you as you trained, I've seen you as you fought, I've seen you on your good days and your bad days, and I know you're the one. Kin, I'm dying. I've seen generations of samurais rise and fall, and it is now time for my own death. I need someone to guard the Kyorokana, and I choose you," the dragon said with great sorrow and otherworldliness. 


As I looked down, realizing my hand had gotten heavier, I saw the Kyorokana in my hand, its beautiful light and halo sparkling and shimmering in the sunset. It was the most beautiful thing in the world, yet it held the power to destroy the world if it fell into the wrong hands. As I stood there, a gust of wind blew past me, and I heard a voice behind me.


"You are the chosen one, Kin," the dragon said. "You are the one who'll take the Kyorokana and keep it safe. The fate of humanity rests in your hands."


I turned to face the dragon, feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand. "But why me, Great Kazaru?" I asked in utter shock.


"Because you are different from the others, unique in qualities. You don't seek and try to have more power or control, but your true values, morality, and righteousness drive you. I know you are the one who can keep the legacy of the Kyorokana alive and make sure that it does not fall into the wrong hands."


As the dragon spoke, I felt a new sense of purpose and determination come over me. I realized that my conquest to become the greatest samurai of all time had come true, and I knew what I had to do.


"I accept your offer, Great Kazaru," I said, holding the Kyorokana up high in the sky.


The dragon nodded, and I saw his eyes glimmer in relief. "Thank you, Kin," he said with a deep voice. "You have restored my faith in humanity. You are worthy of the title of guardian of Kyorokana."


And with that, the dragon let out a loud roar as the ground shook beneath my feet. I watched as he flew up into the sky until his body disappeared into the clouds.


I stood there, stuck for a moment feeling a sense of awe, wonder, and sadness wash over me. I knew my life would never be the same again, but I was ready for whatever came ahead.


As I turned to leave, I heard the heavy footsteps of another clan, the Kuroi, one of the most ruthless of all time. I froze. My hand instinctively reached for my sword as I turned to face the leader, who was none other than the master of all clans, the evilest of all, and the most skilled warrior in all of Japan, Demon Akuma.


"What do you want?" I asked, keeping a firm grip on the Kyorokana.


"I see you have found the Kyorokana, Kin-san," Demon Akuma said, drawing his own sword. His ruthless voice sent shivers down my spine, and a demonic aura surrounded him. And then, I looked beyond him to see an army of the largest, most elite, and fiercest warriors of Japan, all subduing Demon Akuma. "It is rightfully ours, and we will do whatever it takes to get it."


I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I looked at the group of samurai before me. I knew I was outnumbered, but I refused to give up the Kyorokana without a fight.


"Then you'll have to take it," I said, drawing my sword.


The Kuroi clan charged at me, and I met them head-on. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I fought with all my might. My sword clashed against theirs as my body moved precisely with every move, trying to evade and conquer, yet I couldn't keep up and had to run.


Just as I saw a hideout in the mountain, I heard the voice of Great Kazaru in my head, "Stop, Kin-san. You must not hide, and I know you are outnumbered. I may be dead, but my soul lives on, and I want you to become my dragon. You can't run, and your Kyorokana is your life; if it's destroyed, your soul shall die. Do you accept Kin-san?" he said, with great power in his voice. I thought of all the future dragons and then the future of humanity, and so, I replied, "I accept, Great Kazaru," with great passion and empathy.


Suddenly, there was a flash of blinding light, and I became a dragon, the ultimate goal of a true samurai. Within seconds, I decimated the hundreds of Demon Akuma's army using my fire-breathing powers, yet as I saw every samurai fall to their feet, ending their life, one man remained undestroyed, and it was Demon Akuma himself. It was the final battle.


"I don't think you know everything about me, Kin-san. I am also half dragon yet more powerful and royal than you'll ever be!" he yelled as lightning pulsed out of his hand, clashing with immense power and energy against my fire. The clash of the powers echoed through the mountains as we fought, each blow of energy sending shockwaves through my body. Sweat dripped down my face as we circled each other in combat, looking for an opening to catch the other off guard and finish them off.


And then, it happened. In a split second, I felt a sudden surge of energy, pushing him further back until he eventually crumbled to the floor, powerless and vulnerable. With deep sorrow and a feeling of helplessness, Demon Akuma looked at me, his eyes wide with fear. "Please," he said, falling to his knees. "Spare me."


I looked at him for a moment, feeling a sense of pity wash over me. But then, I remembered the power of the Kyorokana, and I knew I could not let it fall into the wrong hands.


"I'm sorry," I said, raising my talons.


And with one swift stroke, I ended his life.



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Grade 7 - Upper Division
Location
Pleasanton Campus
Bio
Riddhiman R. is a 7th grader who loves literature, particularly poems, and loves reading many different genres of books. Some of his favorites include Harry Potter, Land of Stories, Wings of Fire, and The Da Vinci Code. Outside of literature, he loves tinkering with everything technology as well as spending time with his family and friends. Riddhiman also loves nature and has a passion for raising awareness about environmental problems in different youth forums inside and outside of school.